Compacted air flow rapid fluid evaporation system

ABSTRACT

A total water desalination system is disclosed that includes a centrifugal separator, a feed-water device controlled by a relative humidity sensor, an air pump, an evaporator core, an air dryer, a non-particulate coalescent air filter, and an air flow/brine gravity separating tank. The evaporator core typically contains multiple conical processing chambers and introduces a physical dynamic that increases the surface area of the water, using low-level thermal energy to vaporize micron-size water particles into a gaseous state, suitable for reconstitution into desalinated (or lower salt content) water. The evaporator core operation principles are based on creating a highly dynamic environment that separates impurities from sea, brackish, river, or turbid water; evaporating the water into a residual clean vapor, and returning the vapor to water composition with high efficiency.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/636,527, entitled “Compacted Air Flow Rapid Fluid EvaporationSystem,” filed Dec. 11, 2009, which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a desalination system comprising acompact mechanical evaporator core integrated with a number of systemcomponents and an air input and discharge output. The device is designedto efficiently process salted, turbid, or silted water into desalinatedand clean water.

DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART

Distillation of water is the oldest used method of desalination.Distillation uses relatively high temperatures (over the boiling point)to turn water into steam and recondenses the steam into water throughcooling. The higher the purity of the water needed, the moredistillation is required. Distillation operates on the principle ofreducing the vapor pressure of the water within the distillation unit topermit boiling to occur at lower temperatures, without the use ofadditional heat. Distillation units routinely use designs that conserveas much thermal energy as possible by interchanging the heat ofcondensation and the heat of vaporization within the units. The majorenergy requirement in the distillation process is providing the heat forvaporization to the feed water. Maintenance costs are high because thedistillation apparatus is metal and salt water causes corrosion.Additionally, distillation is inherently thermodynamically inefficientdue to energy losses in the process. Therefore the per-unit cost ofdistilled water is high.

More recently, the primary method of desalinating water is accomplishedthrough a process called reverse osmosis. Reverse osmosis uses a complexcombination of membranes, filters, and high-pressure pumps that requirepre-filtering. Reverse osmosis is negatively affected by chlorinatedwater or other chemicals and requires frequent and expensivemaintenance. Reverse osmosis also suffers from membrane vulnerabilitiesthat risk rupture or explosion. Typically, reverse osmosis is unable todesalinate turbid water, which exists near many inland waters and largeshallow bodies of water. Some experts have stated that significantimprovements would require a breakthrough in technology other thanreverse osmosis.

Researchers have documented many disadvantages of reverse osmosis,including:

-   -   The membranes are sensitive to abuse and deterioration.    -   The feed water usually needs to be pretreated to remove        particulates (in order to prolong the life of the membrane).    -   There may be interruptions of service during stormy weather        (which may increase particulate resuspension and the amount of        suspended solids in the feed water) for processing plants that        use seawater.    -   An extensive spare parts inventory must be maintained.    -   There is a risk of bacterial contamination of the membranes;        while bacteria are retained in the brine stream, bacterial        growth on the membrane itself can introduce tastes and odors        into the water.

The inventor of the present application also invented a Medical LiquidProcessor Apparatus and Method described in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/337,770. This medical device does not relate to waterdesalination and is not intended to evaporate a liquid. The devicedisclosed therein includes a chamber back to an orifice gap that formsthe high-speed air flow; a medication feed through the back wall of thechamber in the chamber axis; and a diffuser output nozzle passage. Thisdevice creates small particles of liquid medication for passage into theblood stream through the membrane in the lung alveoli.

There continues to be the need for a desalination system that caninclude a compact evaporator that addresses the deficiencies of thecurrent state of the art. There is also a need for an evaporator that ismore efficient, less costly, and a more effective alternative to thosecurrently available.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein offers a desalination system thatincludes what can be considered a compacted air flow rapid fluidevaporation system. Compared to existing technologies, the presentinvention is simpler, requires less space, and is more efficient andcost effective to produce and operate.

Salt water enters the system through a large centrifugal separator or aY strainer and then processes the salt water through an evaporator corethat separates the salt and other impurities, forms a water vapor, andthe vapor is ultimately reconstituted into desalinated (or lowered saltcontent) and clean water.

There are no filters used in the evaporator core. The evaporator corealso has no moving parts, and only moves air and water throughout.

The evaporator core of the system works by directing dynamic air flowand precisely controlling the rate of the salt-water infusion. The airwater mixture moves through multiple chambers within a plurality ofprocessor assemblies of the evaporator core to achieve maximumvaporization efficiency with minimal salt content.

The system operates as a desalination system that includes the devicesincluding a centrifugal separator or Y strainer, a feed water-meteringdevice, a coalescent air filter, an air pump, an evaporator core, and areconstituting air dryer; all connected with air and feed water tubingto produce desalinated and clean water. The coalescent air filter is nota particulate filter that requires maintenance but one that gathersvapor molecules and reconstitutes them into a liquid state.

The evaporator core of the present invention introduces a physicaldynamic by using an expanding passage, such as one formed by conicalwalls, that increases the surface area of the water using low-levelthermal energy to vaporize micron-size water particles into a gaseousstate, suitable for reconstitution into clean water. At the same time,the core maintains a liquid brine flow that moves through the coretoward its discharge outlet.

The evaporator core is based on creating a highly dynamic environmentthat is separating impurities from sea, brackish, river or turbid water,and evaporating the water into a residual clean vapor. The coalescentair filter and reconstituting air dryer then returns the water vapor toliquid water.

The evaporator core is more thermo-dynamically efficient, because thecore focuses a higher percentage of the energy required to vaporize thewater. The energy that vaporizes the water is both kinetic and low-levelthermal energy. This energy is in direct contact with the liquid andmostly in the micron-size droplets within the dynamic airflow thatminimizes the heat loss to the surrounding structure. These energies areconcentrating on the micron-size particles and thereby more efficientlyevaporate most of the feed water. Water saturation is maximized underthese conditions with the purpose of achieving 100% relative humidity atthe output temperature.

The evaporator core is fundamentally different from any type of reverseosmosis or distillation process. The evaporator core requires nopre-filtering. Rather just a centrifugal separator or Y strainer is usedfor removing large organic and inorganic objects. Also, chlorinatedwater or other chemicals do not negatively affect the evaporator core;and therefore chorine or other chemicals can be added as needed toprevent system obstructions due to organism growth along the waterpipeline. The evaporator core is light, durable, and sustainable. Theseaspects all make the evaporator core more adaptable for alternative useswhich are discussed below.

The evaporator core has multiple chambers and insertion points and isdesigned such that compressed air and water are infused and interact ina novel way, desalinating and purifying water efficiently. Theevaporator core is expected to improve energy efficiency, reduceequipment space requirements and complexity, and minimize operations andmaintenance downtime and cost.

There are many capabilities of the system over the existingstate-of-the-art are many. The system requires minimal pre-processingthat reduces the cost of maintenance. The system requires only acentrifugal separator or Y strainer with no filters thereby alsoreducing maintenance labor and costs.

Due to significantly lower pounds per square inch pressure requirements,the system has greater thermodynamic energy efficiency. The system alsohas lower sensitivity to turbid water conditions that achieve improvedlevels of desalinated water.

There are no exotic expensive materials used, as the evaporator core hasbeen designed for construction with anti-corrosive salt resistantmaterials, such as 316-grade stainless steel or less expensive polymers.The system is chemically resistant, with no chlorine impact to thedevice as with reverse osmosis. No toxic chemicals are required, makingthe system environmentally safe.

Maintenance costs for the system are lower because the system is lesscomplicated, has fewer parts, requires no pre-filtering, and has lessdowntime. The space requirements or geographical footprint issignificantly lower as well as its weight.

The evaporator core is more scalable as the core allows for geometricprogression, when compared to current reverse osmosis systems. That is,when the invention disclosed in this application, is geometricallydoubled in physical size, the throughput or yield of desalinated waterquadruples.

In the embodiment disclosed, pressured and dry air enters the evaporatorcore via an air pump. A volute entrance passage located in a rear casingbrings air flow into the first of a plurality of processor assemblies.

The volute passage sets up a swirling air flow moving into the entranceof processor chamber. Air swirls down a conical passage of decreasingdiameter with increasing velocity where the air enters the processingchamber reversing direction at almost 180 degrees where a storm-likeactivity forms vaporizing the injected liquid. This process is repeatedthrough each of the next seven processor assemblies.

A violent air/water swirling storm-like process forms at the back wallof the processor chamber that turns the water into small dropletsthereby increasing the surface area of the water. As this storm-likeactivity is formed within the mechanical device, the device operates toform a “mechanical storm”. This enables highly efficient separation ofthe salt from the water so as to form a desalinated vapor.

The evaporator core is typically shown and described herein with eightprocessor assemblies, however more or less numbers of processorassemblies can be used and could be potentially even be used with onlyone processor assembly.

Alternative embodiments are also possible such as where the processorassembly is modified for high volume air flow at low pressure for lowerhorsepower requirements. Other modifications include tangential cutpassages leading to the nozzle and radial cut passages feeding thechamber gap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and features of the present invention willbe clearly understood from the following description with respect to thepreferred embodiment thereof when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings and diagrams, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic overall view of a system for desalinationof water according the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the evaporator core assembly accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the evaporator core assembly according to thefirst embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the evaporator core taken along line4-4 of FIG. 3 according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an angled view of the evaporator core front casing accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of the evaporator core rear casing according tothe first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the evaporator core rear casingaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the evaporator core front casingaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional detailed view of the evaporator coreseparator centrifuge shown in FIG. 4 according to the first embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional detailed view of the evaporator coreseparator output nozzle shown in FIG. 4 according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a left side view of the evaporator core processor assemblyaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an external side view of the evaporator core processorassembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional view of the evaporator core processorassembly volute detail taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12 according tothe first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a side cross sectional view of the evaporator core processorassembly as shown in FIG. 4 according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the evaporator core according to the firstembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional view of the evaporator core rear casingtaken along line 16-16 in FIG. 15 according to the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a cross sectional view of the evaporator core front casingtaken along the line 17-17 in FIG. 15 according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 18 is the perspective front view of the evaporator core accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an external perspective view of the evaporator core accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view with the front and rear casings removedaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a side view of an evaporator core processor assemblyaccording to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is side cross sectional view of the evaporator core processorassembly according to an alternative embodiment the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a cross sectional view detailing radial cut apertures andtangential cut apertures of the core processor assembly according to analternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a cross sectional view detailing the processor assemblywithin the core assembly showing the air input and the air outputpassages to the separator.

FIG. 25 is a cross sectional view detailing the processor assembly andthe separator assembly within the core assembly showing the tangentialtransfer passage from the processor chamber to the separator chambertransfer passage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Illustrative embodiments and aspects are described below. It will ofcourse be appreciated that in the development of any such actualembodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made toachieve the specific goals of the developer, such as compliance withsystem-related and business-related constraints that will vary from oneimplementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such adevelopment effort might be complex and time-consuming, but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in theart having the benefit of this disclosure.

Presently preferred embodiments of the invention are described belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the artwill understand that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematicrepresentations of presently preferred embodiments, and should not limitthe scope of the claimed invention.

According to FIG. 1, there are eight subsystems that make up the entiresystem. Initially, a centrifugal separator or Y strainer 110 is used toremove large organic and inorganic items such as fish, sticks, moss,roots, bark, and other debris. Following processing of the water in thecentrifugal separator or Y strainer 110, the water is fed to a saltwater feed device 120. The salt water feed device 120 is provided toinject precise amounts of the salt water at, varying speeds for optimumefficiency. Then a reconstituting air dryer 130 is used to reclaim waterinto a liquid from a gas for discharge of desalinated water 170.

An air pump 140 functions as the prime mover of the system usingcompressed air to initiate the dynamic airflows within the evaporatorcore 200, when mixed with precise amounts of salt water. Also, acoalescent air filter 150 can be used to remove water from the air linesand help take water liquification load off the reconstituting air dryer130.

An evaporator core 200 is provided after the air filter 150. Theevaporator core 200 is preferably made from commercially available grade316 stainless steel, in this embodiment.

The evaporator core 200 is used to process water, as described herein.After the salt-feed water is completely processed through the evaporatorcore 200, the brine is separated from the vapor in the separatinggravity tank 160, the liquid brine 165 is discharged, and the air/vaporflow 190 is returned to the main flow.

This system also includes a computer-controlled relative humidity sensor180 that monitors the saturation of the air in a closed-loop computersystem to adjust the rate of salt-feed water to maximize efficiency.Adjustment of the feed rate is made until the desired minimum liquidityof brine discharge is achieved. Each of these subsystem components canbe connected with commercially available piping to transfer fluid andair within the system.

FIGS. 2-20 disclose the evaporator core 200 including a rear casing 202,a front casing 246, a plurality of scrubber centrifuge chamber to volutetransfer passages 236, 267 and multiple processor assemblies 276arranged in a radial fashion around a central axis, as best illustratedin FIG. 20, for space compactness with a final brine separatorcentrifuge 300 located in the center.

In this embodiment, the design is based on eight processor assemblies.According to FIGS. 6-7, in the rear casing 202, pressurized air from theoutput of the external system air pump 140 according to FIG. 1 entersthe evaporator core 200 via one of two dry air input apertures 204, 248.Either the rear casing dry air input aperture 204 or the front casingdry air input aperture 248 can be used for air flow. Additionally bothdry air input apertures 204, 248 could be used. If only one dry airinput aperture is used, the other is plugged with an alternative dry airinput aperture plug 311, according to FIGS. 2-8. The rear casing voluteentrance passage 206 brings the air flow into the wide-end entrance ofthe processor chamber volute 286.

The volutes 286 are formed by elements in the processor receptacle 284and the front and rear casing processor pockets 208, 250. The eccentriccylinder segment 287 portion of the processor receptacle 284 iseccentric to the main body of the processor receptacle 284 in order toform the hollow flow path of the volutes 286 in the cavity between thateccentric cylinder segment 287 and the concentric processor pockets 208,250 in the rear casing 202 and the front casing 246.

Air entering from the air pump 140 curls around the processor chambervolute 286, flowing inward to the first of eight processor chamber airinput gaps 282, in this embodiment. These gaps are formed between theforward surface of the first of eight processor receptacles 284 and thefirst of eight processor chamber to scrubber chamber bulkheads 292, andpreferably form an integral part of the processor nozzle 290. Thebulkhead 292 is part of the processor nozzle 290 and held by the rearcasing 202 and the front casing 246 so the processor nozzle 290 does notmove.

The processor nozzle 290 and the processor receptacles 284 togethercomprise each of the processor assemblies 276, according to FIG. 14 inthis embodiment. The eight processor assemblies 276 are housed in eightprocessor pockets 208, 250 according to FIGS. 5-8. Four processorpockets 208 are in the rear casing 202 and four processor pockets 250are in the front casing 246. The rear casing 202 includes the first 210,third 212, fifth 214, and seventh 216 processor pockets. The frontcasing 246 includes the second 252, fourth 254, sixth 256, and eighth257. The processor assemblies are positioned in the pockets of eachcasing 202, 246 with four C-clips 244, 274 each allow easy extraction ofthe receptacle from the respective pocket. The C-clips hold eachprocessor receptacle 284 in position and keep the processor receptacle284 from being blown out of the casing when under pressure. Four C-clips244 are used in the rear casing 244 and four C-clips 274 are used in thefront casing 274. O-rings 288 seal the receptacle to prevent the fluidfrom leaking out. There are eight processor assemblies 276, four in eachcasing, that are joined together in this embodiment with eight fasteners240, 270 in a respective bolt circle openings 242, 272 to complete theassembly of the front casing 246 and the rear casing 202. Other methodsof securing the structure of the casings such as welding, gluing,flanging, or cementing are also possible.

According to FIG. 1, after the external salt water feed moves through acentrifugal separator or Y strainer 110 to separate large obstructiveparticles, the feed water reaches the salt water feed device 120. Thefeed water-metering device then injects one-eighth of the salt-feedwater to each of the eight processor assemblies 276 through the coaxialbrine input injector 298 along the longitudinal center axis of eachprocessor assembly 276 according to FIG. 14.

The coaxial brine input injector 298 is shown with a hose connectionincluding a hose barb 312, a feed-water hose 310, and a hose-lockingdevice 313. The coaxial brine input injector 298 could also be attachedwith a flange, with an interference fit, by welding, or by cementing.

A swirling violent storm-like activity, also considered to be amechanical storm, forms in the area from the first of the eightprocessor assembly chamber back walls 281 to the respective processorchamber 278. This spacing between the flat chamber back wall surface 281to nozzle orifice 294 forms a flow path gap and is a primary elementthat defines the function of the processor and creates the mechanicalstorm. It is necessary that the gap be calculated for the mechanicalstorm with a relationship between the orifice 294 to the chamber backwall 281 being preferably mathematically defined according to thefollowing formula:

DπG _(w)=(D/2)²π

Wherein: D=nozzle orifice diameter 294 in English units

-   -   G_(w)=Gap width in English units

The relationship of the gap between the chamber back wall 281 and thenozzle orifice 294 receiving air from the increasingly descendingconical swirling concentrating air flow as seen in FIG. 14, betweenrespective flow path walls 316 and 317, is what creates the mechanicalstorm that turns the salt-feed water into a fine vapor that tends toremain a vapor.

The salt water feed is transformed into a cloudy vapor in this process.The ambient heat of the compressed air or local waste heat evaporatesthe majority of the water, dropping out the salt and impurities into aliquid brine discharge coursing along through the system to the brinedischarge port, according to FIG. 4. The local waste heat referred toabove may be coming from external adjustment industrial heat sources,such as other pumps, engines, renewal energy sources including wind andsolar, nuclear power sources, electrical power sources, air systems,energy transformational systems emitting waste heat, chemical to energymechanical systems, chemical to electrical systems, etc., all readilyavailable in the environment where this invention might be used.

A proper balance of salt water feed rate is needed, obtained byadjusting the salt water feed device 120 for a precise rate of saltwater feed influx to create the desired liquid brine discharge. If thesalt water feed rate is too low, the salt and minerals dry out and saltcakes form causing the machine to clog. If the salt water feed rate istoo high, the efficiency is reduced and the opportunity for desalinatingwater is wasted. The salt water is helixing along the diffuser wall 314of the first of eight diffuser discharge passages 296, as the evaporatedclean water vapor goes along the center axis of the diffuser dischargepassage 296. In other words, the water including the brine spinsoutwardly against the diffuser wall 314 forming an expanding tube ofwater. At the same time, the air and water vapor helixes inside theexpanding tube of water.

As shown in FIG. 24, the water including the brine leaves the diffuserdischarge passage 296 along the diffuser wall 314 of the diffuserdischarge passage 296, slings off the end of the diffuser wall 314 bycentrifugal force into the first cylindrical scrubber centrifuge chamber260 of eight scrubber centrifuge chambers 258, 218, according to FIGS.5-8. The water continues to spin along the scrubber chamber wall andthen transfers to the next processor air gap 282 via the scrubbercentrifuge chamber to volute transfer passage 236, 267 and the processorchamber volute 286.

According to FIGS. 5 and 8, there are four scrubber centrifuge chambersin the front casing 246 including the first 260, third 262, fifth 264,and the seventh 266 scrubber centrifuge chambers. According to FIGS.6-7, there are four scrubber centrifuge chambers in the rear casing 202including the second 220, fourth 222, sixth 224, and eighth 226 scrubbercentrifuge chambers.

The interface between the rotating air and rotating water furtherevaporates and concentrates the brine. Both the brine flow and the airvapor flow exit through the scrubber centrifuge chamber to volutetransfer passage 267, in the front casing. The scrubber centrifugechamber to volute transfer passages 236 in the rear casing and 267 inthe front casing are one of two types of tangentially-directed transferpassages 234. These transfer passages 234 and the curved passage of theprocessor chamber volutes 286 between the processor receptacle 284including the eccentric cylinder segment 287 and the processor nozzle290 are designed to keep the air rotation of all of the chamberssynchronized and of sufficient area to minimize pressure drops. Theother of the two types of transfer passages 234 is the eighth and finalscrubber centrifuge chamber to separator transfer passage 238, describedlater in this disclosure.

The brine flow and air vapor flow then enter the wide-end perimeter ofthe second processor chamber volute 286. The air enters the secondprocessor chamber air input gap 282 into a helixing air flow at adecreasing conical diameter with increasing helical speed and is definedby the inner flow path wall 316 and the outer flow path wall 317. Thespace between the flow path wall 316 and the outer flow path wall 317 isa generally conical area.

While it has been shown in this embodiment that the processor receptacle284 includes a conical facing nozzle, in an alternative embodiment, thisconical face could be other shapes such as a curved or convex shapedwall, so long as the area is constant and the area remains the same forthe incremental movement down the pathway toward the chamber as thismaintains a constant flow rate. In such an alternative embodiment, theouter surface of the nozzle forming the passage would need to bemodified to maintain the constant area along the length toward thecenter.

The air and brine mixture then flows into the second of eight processorchambers 278. As the air flow and air water mixture proceeds toward thecenter of the receptacle, the flow passage is designed so that the flowis continuous and does not have any back pressure.

In FIG. 14, the space between the chamber back walls 281 and theprocessor nozzle orifices 294 physically define the processor chambers278. In the processor chamber, a mechanical storm is formed whereone/eighth of the next amount of new salt-feed water is injected.

The combined mixture continues the process with most of the new saltwater evaporating along with a small amount of liquid brine discharge,controlled by the salt water feed device 120. This salt water feeddevice 120 adds enough liquid input at the appropriate controlled rateuntil a brine discharge is created and processed through the entiresystem to the brine discharge port 232.

The water vapor brine discharge exits through the processor nozzleorifice 294 and proceeds through the conical diffuser discharge passage296. The water vapor and the brine discharge then enter the secondscrubber centrifuge chamber 220 and exit via the scrubber centrifugechamber to volute transfer passage 236 to the third processor chambervolute 286. The entire process continues six more times in thisembodiment going through the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, andeighth processor stages.

After the flow completes processing through the eighth scrubbercentrifuge chamber 226, the liquid brine flows from the final scrubbercentrifuge chamber to the separator transfer passage 238, according toFIGS. 6, 7, and 16. As shown in FIGS. 9-10, the flow enters the centerseparator assembly chamber 228, 268 and the air vapor brine flow helixestowards the front casing 246 end of the center separator assemblychamber 228 and centralizes around the longitudinal center axis of thefront wall 315.

The flow transfers into the separator centrifuge 300 via the gap betweenthe front wall 315 of the center separator assembly chamber 228, 268 andthe entrance of the liquid and air vapor-separating chamber 304. Thefinal brine waste passes along the wall of the liquid and airvapor-separating chamber 304 where the final brine waste helixes towardthe rear casing brine discharge port 232.

The air carrying the desalinated water vapor exits via the separatoroutput nozzle 302 that is threaded into the vapor output port 230. Themouth of the nozzle 308 is designed with a large diameter opening toreduce the air velocity and prevent the ingestion of brine. Furthermore,centrifuge fins 306 are designed to collect brine into large slowrotating volumes to be slung back into the brine discharge path 318. Thebrine discharge, motivated by a small vapor flow, prepares for disposalthrough a separating gravity tank 160. The liquid brine 165 is thenprepared for disposal and the air/vapor flow return 190 then passes onto the main air water vapor flow.

The air water vapor flows around through to the reconstituting air dryer130 where the water vapor is reconstituted into clean and desalinatedwater 170. The dried air from the reconstituting air dryer 130 isrecycled through the system maximize efficient energy reuse. The brineflow rate is computer controlled using a relative humidity sensor 180,or other applicable sensors, including liquid sensors, light sensorsthat measure liquid, etc. In a closed-loop computer controlled system,the relative humidity sensor 180 directs the water flow rate for thesalt water feed device 120.

FIGS. 21-23 disclose an alternative embodiment to the evaporator coreprocessor assemblies 276. All references to the present invention aredirectly related to the alternative embodiment references which beginwith reference numeral beginning with the 500 series. For example, theprocessor nozzle 290 and the processor nozzle 590 is used for thealternative embodiment. In the disclosed alternative embodiment thenozzle orifices are shown as 594, the diffuser discharge passages areshown as 596, the chamber back wall is shown as 581, and the processorreceptacle are shown as 584.

In this alternative embodiment, there are two new features. The firstfeature includes radial cut input passages 514 replacing the processorchamber volutes 286 in the present invention. The second featureincludes tangentially cut input passages 515 in the nozzle and theycreate the swirling air flow in the processor chamber 578 similar to theprocessor chamber volute 286 in the earlier embodiment. This alternativeembodiment is designed for high air flow and low pressure to conserveenergy through reduced horsepower requirements.

Other alternative embodiments are envisioned including those adapted formanufacturing processes to improve feed water for liquid distilling andfood preparation. Another alternative embodiment of the presentinvention can be used for removing (or dewatering) excess liquid frommanufacturing processes, such as paper pulp water extraction, fruit pulpdewatering and drying, or crude oil dewatering. In these industrialapplications, where excess water is unneeded, the water vapor can bedischarged into the atmosphere.

In the first embodiment, the design is based on eight processorassemblies, but other numbers of processor assemblies can be used andare contemplated by this invention. Specifically, this device couldoperate with only a single processor assembly.

The other subsystems of the present invention may be acquiredcommercially, including, for example, the air dryer, the air pump, thesensors, and the computer to control the feed-water rate.

While it has been shown in this embodiment that the receptacle includesa conical facing nozzle, in an alternative embodiment, this conical facecould be other shapes such as a curved wall or a convex wall, so long asthe passageway area is the same area along the length of the passageway.In such an alternative embodiment, the outer surface of the nozzleforming the passage would also probably need to be modified to maintainthe constant area along the length toward the center.

The coaxial brine input injector 298 in this disclosure is shown with ahose connection including a hose barb 312, a feed-water hose 310 andhose-locking device 313. The coaxial brine input injector 298 could alsobe attached with other means such as a flange, an interference fit, bywelding, or by cementing.

It is to be understood that although the present invention has beendescribed with regard to preferred embodiments thereof, various otherembodiments and variants may occur to those skilled in the art, whichare within the scope and spirit of the invention, and such otherembodiments and variants are intended to be covered by the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus, comprising: a processor assemblyconfigured to mix a solution and a gas to produce an atomized mixture ofthe solution and the gas, the processor assembly including an inletmember and an outlet nozzle, the inlet member defining a first flowpath, the inlet member and the outlet nozzle collectively defining asecond flow path, the processor assembly configured to be fluidicallycoupled to a source of the solution such that the solution can beconveyed from the source to a mixing chamber via the first flow path,the processor assembly configured such that the inlet gas can beconveyed into the mixing chamber via the second flow path; and aseparator configured to be fluidically coupled to the processorassembly, the separator configured to receive the mixture of the gas andthe solution, the separator configured to produce a first outlet flowand a second outlet flow, the first outlet flow including a portion ofthe gas and a vaporized portion of a solvent from the solution, thesecond outlet flow including a liquid portion of the solvent from thesolution and a solute from the solution.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein an outer surface of the inlet member and an outer surface of theoutlet nozzle collectively define the second flow path.
 3. The apparatusof claim 1, wherein: an outer surface of the inlet member and an outersurface of the outlet nozzle collectively define the second flow path,the outer surface of the inlet member includes a flow structureconfigured to produce a rotational velocity component within a flow ofthe gas when the gas exits the second flow path.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the inlet member and the outlet nozzle collectivelydefine the mixing chamber.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thesolvent is water and the solute includes salt.
 6. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the outlet nozzle defines a third flow path within which themixture of the gas and the solution flows towards the separator.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the outlet nozzledefines a third flow path within which the mixture of the gas and thesolution flows towards the separator, the inner surface being tapered.8. A method, comprising: conveying a solution containing a solvent and asolute from a solution source to a mixing chamber via a first flow path;conveying a gas from a gas source to the mixing chamber via a secondflow path; mixing the solution and the gas in the mixing chamber toproduce an atomized mixture of the solution and the gas; separating afirst outlet flow containing a vaporized portion of the solvent from asecond outlet flow containing a liquid portion of the solvent and thesolute.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first flow path is definedby an inner surface of an inlet member and the second flow path isdefined by an outer surface of the inlet member and an inner surface ofan outlet nozzle.
 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first flow pathis defined by an inner surface of an inlet member and the second flowpath is defined by an outer surface of the inlet member and an innersurface of an outlet nozzle, the outer surface of the inlet memberincluding a flow structure configured to produce a rotational velocitycomponent within a flow of the gas when the gas exits the second flowpath.
 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the solvent is water and thesolute includes salt.
 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:conveying the mixture of the gas and the solution to a separator chambervia a third flow path, the third flow path defined by the outlet nozzle.13. The method of claim 8, further comprising: conveying the mixture ofthe gas and the solution to a separator chamber via a third flow path,the third flow path defined by an inner surface of the outlet nozzle,the inner surface of the outlet nozzle being tapered.